Good to know
Good to Know
- Afternoon rain is very common so you'll need rain gear and good hiking boots to deal with all the mud (especially in the high altitude páramos).
- Chingaza National Park has limited visitor numbers and you need a prior reservation, usually handled through the official park system or a local operator. Foreigners pay a park fee and you are strongly encouraged or required to go with an authorized guide.
- For safety on certain trails, it is better to go in a group or with a guide. On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays there is police patrol from 5am to 10am. Bring a loaded TransMilenio card to take a bus back down from San Luis neighborhood.
- Take time to acclimate on arrival, especially while hiking or undertaking any strenuous activity in the city.
- Many trails require early starts to complete within daylight hours; plan accordingly.
Parks
Parque Metropolitano Simón Bolívar
- Nearness
- City center
- Description
- The largest park in Bogotá with over 400 hectares, located centrally. Features a large man-made lake where visitors can rent paddle boats or kayaks. Offers well-maintained football fields, tennis courts, and a velodrome for cycling enthusiasts. Provides beautiful green space with walkways and trails for hiking, cycling, children's games and a beautiful lake.
Activities
- cycling
- walking
- Water sports
- picnicking
- sports
Parque 93
- Nearness
- City north
- Description
- One of Bogotá's most polished and social green spaces—surrounded by top-tier restaurants, boutique cafés, and rooftop lounges. While smaller than the city's mega parks, it's a cultural and culinary hotspot.
Activities
- walking
- Social gathering
- dining
José Celestino Mutis Botanical Garden
- Nearness
- City center
- Description
- The waterfall at the heart of the garden and the orchid conservatory are favorite spots for a slow, immersive walk through nature. You hear nothing but birds and the rustling of leaves.
Activities
- walking
- Botanical exploration
Hiking
Monserrate Via Pilgrims' Way (Cerro De Monserrate)
- Altitude M
- 3152
- Difficulty
- challenging
- Distance Km
- 3.7
- Access Options
- The 1,500-meter hiking trail ascends through native cloud forest with stone steps, wooden railings, and occasional steep sections requiring moderate fitness and proper footwear. Ascent takes 45-90 minutes depending on pace and acclimatization to Bogotá's 2,640-meter elevation. Cable car and funicular available as alternatives; funicular ride is seven minutes long.
- Elevation Gain M
- 867
- Trailhead Access
- Starting point at the northeastern edge of Bogota's historical center, La Candelaria, close to the museum Quinta de Bolívar. Very easy to reach by public transport.
- Duration Hours Up
- 1.5
- Permit Requirement
- No permit required. Trail is closed for maintenance on Tuesdays. Trail opens 5:00 AM-1:00 PM Monday-Saturday and 5:00 AM-4:00 PM Sunday, closing to uphill traffic after these hours while permitting descent until evening.
- Duration Hours Down
- 1
- Altitude Considerations
- Common altitude effects include shortness of breath, mild headache, fatigue, and reduced physical stamina. The physiological adaptation requires 24-48 hours for most visitors, making Monserrate visits advisable on second or third day of Bogotá stay rather than arrival day. Walking slowly, breathing deeply, and allowing frequent rest breaks mitigates altitude challenges.
- Seasonal Weather Notes
- Best time to visit is between December and March, during the dry season. During these months, rainfall is less frequent, making the hike more pleasant and the trails more accessible. Trail can be closed during periods of extreme weather conditions, such as intense heat and dryness or heavy rain.
Laguna De Iguaque (Santuario De Flora Y Fauna Iguaque)
- Altitude M
- 3700
- Difficulty
- challenging
- Distance Km
- 4
- Access Options
- The 4km trek to the misty Laguna de Iguaque, located at 3700m in the Santuario de Flora y Fauna Iguaque, is an energizing, uphill adventure. As it's tricky to get here and quite easy to get lost in the mist, it is best to go with an organised tour.
- Elevation Gain M
- 1400
- Trailhead Access
- The hike is 14km by road north of Villa de Leyva. There is one bus that leaves the town at 7am each day and if you are driving make sure you arrive before 10am or you will not be permitted to hike.
- Permit Requirement
- Park reopened to the public at the end of 2024 after 4 years of closure. Since April 28, 2025, visitors must present a vaccination card to enter national parks in Colombia. Entry fees for foreigners are 76,000 COP. Guide cost is roughly 200,000 to 300,000 Colombian pesos, with a maximum of 9 people per guide. Park requires reservations five days ahead of time.
- Cultural Significance
- The Muisca believed humankind was born at Laguna de Iguaque. Legend has it that a goddess named Bachué emerged from the lake carrying a baby boy. The boy later became her husband and together they populated the earth. They later turned into serpents and returned to the sacred lake.
- Duration Hours Round Trip
- 6
- Location Note
- Located near Villa de Leyva, approximately 3 hours north of Bogotá; day trip requires staying overnight in Villa de Leyva
- Seasonal Weather Notes
- Rainy season makes hiking conditions challenging. Best visited during dry season (December-March).
La Chorrera Waterfall (Cascada La Chorrera)
- Altitude M
- 2400
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Distance Km
- 12
- Access Options
- A medium difficulty hike for 12 km in 6 hours with impressive panoramic photographs. The trail is of moderate difficulty, recommended for people with good physical condition, as it includes some hills and irregular sections.
- Elevation Gain M
- 600
- Trailhead Access
- From Bogota, the most common route involves taking 26 Street to Circunvalar Avenue and then heading south. After passing the Distrital University, take the exit towards Choachi, following this route for about 27 kilometers until reaching the detour to the adventure park. For those opting for public transport, buses from 6 Street with Caracas avenue offer an alternative. The fare costs 2,500 COP, and passengers should inform the driver that the destination is La Chorrera.
- Permit Requirement
- The trail crosses private land and requires the payment of an entrance fee, but unlike the national parks, the presence of a guide is not mandatory. Basic package includes visits to La Chorrera, El Chiflon, the rock formation, and other attractions, priced at 40,000 COP for adults and 25,000 COP for children.
- Duration Hours Round Trip
- 6
- Location Note
- Just 30 km from Bogotá, approximately 1 hour drive
- Seasonal Weather Notes
- Best time to visit is between December and March, during the dry season. However, if you want to admire the waterfall with a more impressive flow of water, it may be worth going during the rainy season (April to November).
Quebrada La Vieja
- Altitude M
- 3200
- Difficulty
- easy
- Distance Km
- 14
- Access Options
- Set in the Cerros Orientales, the mountains to the east of Bogotá, the hikes are short, well maintained, not too challenging and at the end you get a stunning view of Bogotá as your reward.
- Trailhead Access
- You can start the trail on the Séptima with Calle 71. Walk east along 71 until you reach a landscaped wooded gully which winds up the hill, then follow the walkway through a tunnel under the Circunvalar.
- Permit Requirement
- Entrance to the paths is free, though access times are controlled by local authorities. Open most days starting 5AM, but can close at short notice after rain or on rest days.
- Duration Hours Round Trip
- 3-4
- Location Note
- Located in the Cerros Orientales, mountains to the east of Bogotá
- Seasonal Weather Notes
- Restrictions are partly to protect the steep mountainside from erosion, with the trails usually closed after heavy rain, but also for security.
Sendero Horizontes - Las Moyas
- Altitude M
- 3287
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Distance Km
- 5.6
- Access Options
- A moderate path that climbs through eucalyptus and acacia forests, leading to a páramo with expansive views of Bogotá.
- Elevation Gain M
- 500
- Trailhead Access
- Access from city neighborhoods to the east; On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays there is police patrol from 5am to 10am.
- Permit Requirement
- The Sendero Horizontes - Las Moyas route often requires permission. Also known as Los Horizontes, it is only officially open Saturdays and Sundays, and public holidays from 5 am.
- Location Note
- Eastern hills of Bogotá
- Seasonal Weather Notes
- Best in dry season (December-March)
Chingaza National Park - Laguna De Siecha Trail
- Altitude M
- 3590
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Distance Km
- 6
- Access Options
- This trail near Bogotá leads to three stunning high-altitude lakes inside Chingaza National Park. It's a mix of ancient Muisca legends and dramatic páramo views. The trail is well maintained, but you'll need to reserve in advance.
- Elevation Gain M
- 400
- Trailhead Access
- Public transportation access: Take a bus or taxi in Guasca to Paso Hondo, at La Trinidad rural settlement. The bus will drop you at Paso Hondo, from where you must continue on foot for 6 kilometers (1.5 hours) to the Siecha control post.
- Permit Requirement
- Advance permits must be obtained at least 15 days before visiting. See the official park web site for details, or send email to: ecoturismo@parquesnacionales.gov.co, or phone 3532400 (ext.3011). Entrance fee is COP$13,500 for Colombians, COP$39,500 for foreigners. Visitor capacity for Trail Laguna de Siecha is 60 people (this could change depending on the weather conditions).
- Cultural Significance
- Lagunas de Siecha are 3 glacial lakes considered sacred in the religion of the Muisca, the Indian tribe that inhabited this area before the Spanish conquest. The lakes are at an altitude of 3590 meters amid spectacular páramo and hundreds of frailejones.
- Duration Hours Round Trip
- 5
- Location Note
- Chingaza is located a couple of hours from Bogota by car. Access via Guasca; the Siecha control post is located 15 kilometers from the town of Guasca. You can only reach Lagunas de Siecha from this entrance.
- Seasonal Weather Notes
- The best time to visit Chingaza National Park is from December to March, since it is the dry season. Chingaza is not known for sunny weather, so being there in the dry season is nice. The sun is shining brightly, making the temperature very pleasant at this altitude.
Cerro De Guadalupe
- Altitude M
- 3260
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Distance Km
- 2
- Access Options
- Follow the road until the top and you can't get lost as there are no turn offs. The whole 2km hike is uphill, with several respites. Stands at 3260 metres vs 3100 for Montserrate. There's no one there! It's free.
- Elevation Gain M
- 300
- Trailhead Access
- From the terminal you need to get on the bus to Choachi but tell them you want to get off at Cerró de Guadalupe, which is about half an hour into the journey. It's around 4,000 COP each way and you will get dropped off by the driver on the side of the main road on the access road that leads to the top of the mountain.
- Permit Requirement
- No permit required. It's free.
- Views Note
- Destination offers panoramic views of the city and houses a sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, with an imposing 15-meter statue.
- Location Note
- Eastern hills of Bogotá, accessed via Choachí road
- Seasonal Weather Notes
- Best in dry season; can be icy in wet season
Water Activities
Paddle Boating and Kayaking
- Location
- Parque Metropolitano Simón Bolívar lake
- Description
- Visitors can rent paddle boats or kayaks to explore the lake at their leisure. Surrounding the lake are many picnic spots where families and friends gather to enjoy meals in the fresh air, set against the backdrop of the water.
Cycling
- CiclovíA Info
- Rent a bike near one of the main Ciclovía routes, such as Avenida Boyacá or Calle 26, to easily join the fun. Many rental shops offer hourly or daily rates, and some even provide guided tours.
- Mountain Biking
- Cycling is big in Bogota, and you are guaranteed to develop a fitness level that will make exercising in lower altitude feel like a piece of cake. On Saturdays and Sundays, large numbers of cyclists take the roads out of the city towards the neighbouring villages. Roads are not closed for regular traffic, though, and if you take the busiest ones you may find yourself breathing the exhaust of all trucks and cars that surpass you.
- Description
- Every Sunday and on public holidays, Bogotá transforms into a cyclist's paradise with the Ciclovía, a weekly event that opens over 120 kilometers (75 miles) of city streets exclusively for cyclists, pedestrians, and other forms of non-motorized transport. This tradition isn't just about exercise; it's a vital part of Bogotá's culture, encouraging community engagement and providing a safe, car-free environment to explore the city.
Sports Leagues
- Description
- The most important athletic event is the yearly Bogota Half-Marathon, organized every August, that attracts thousands of runners from the country and abroad, as well as world-class athletes. The Club Colombia Golf Championship takes place in February, and though it is for a restricted audience, it features top players from all around the globe.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this nature, parks & outdoor activities research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.sacredtreks.com
- 2.alltrails.com
- 3.wanderlog.com
- 4.bnbcolombia.com
- 5.travelonthereg.com
- 6.alltrails.com
- 7.thirtysomethingtraveller.com
- 8.mytriptocolombia.com
- 9.lonelyplanet.com
- 10.nomadicniko.com
- 11.visitmycolombia.com
- 12.nomades.com
- 13.colombiaone.com
- 14.thirtysomethingtraveller.com
- 15.old.parquesnacionales.gov.co
- 16.roadtrip.travel
- 17.en.wikivoyage.org
- 18.sula.com.co
- 19.besabine.com
- 20.colombiatouristattractions.com
- 21.mytriptocolombia.com
- 22.humbo.com
- 23.aldeapyme.com
- 24.easyexpat.com
- 25.cielo.travel
- 26.cultureactivities.com
- 27.thirtysomethingtraveller.com
- 28.alltrails.com
- 29.wikiloc.com
- 30.tripadvisor.com
- 31.alltrails.com
- 32.tradingeconomics.com
- 33.dolar-colombia.com
More About Bogotá
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.